Despite 49ers loss, Seahawks remain No. 1 in NFL rankings

Even after their 19-17 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks are still ranked No. 1 in all the major NFL power rankings.

The Hawks remained in first place in ESPN’s rankings Tuesday, just edging the Denver Broncos, who have the same record as Seattle at 11-2. In fact, in its rankings post, ESPN’s entire introductory discussion was about keeping the Seahawks at No. 1 despite their rivalry loss.

Seahawks tight end Luke Willson celebrates his 39-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter Sunday in San Francisco. The Seahawks lost 19-17 to the 49ers at Candlestick Park. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

“So is Seattle, which has won seven straight before Sunday, still No. 1? The answer is a resounding yes, as Russell Wilson & Co. earned five of six first-place votes. The Broncos remain at No. 2, followed by the Saints, Patriots and 49ers.

“Was keeping the status quo the right decision? It’s hard to argue with the logic. In this day and age, no team is immune from losing to a playoff-bound opponent in a tough environment. The Seahawks, who are tied for the NFL’s best record at 11-2, remain on track for the NFC’s No. 1 seed and boast the league’s top defense.

“When your body of work is as impressive as that, one slip-up can be forgiven.”

Likewise, voters for The Associated Press held Seattle at No. 1, giving the Hawks 10 out of 12 first-place votes. In the AP’s ratings, the Seahawks were followed by Denver, New Orleans, New England and San Francisco in the top five.

“Broncos fans might get upset, but the Seahawks are still the best team in football,” Harrison wrote. “They play all three phases of the game and — most importantly — can stop teams from scoring. Sure, Seattle lost on Sunday, but it was to the archrival 49ers at the ‘Stick. A two-point defeat to a likely playoff team on the road is not enough to knock the 12th Man from the top spot, not when the Broncos surrendered at lot of points (again) in a home win over a non-playoff team (Tennessee).”

Brian Billick of Fox Sports also gave Seattle the benefit of the doubt, ranking the Seahawks first ahead of — you guessed it — Peyton Manning’s Broncos. Billick’s top five teams were a little different, with Carolina taking the No. 5 spot ahead of San Francisco.

“Despite the loss, the Seahawks remain the best team in the NFL,” Billick wrote. “They are too tough to beat at home and they should have no problem winning out and locking up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.”